Method For Conducting A Golf Tournament Over A Plurality Of Geographic Locations

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a method is provided for conducting a golf tournament over a plurality of geographic locations. The method includes the steps of providing a golf course with a fixed layout in each geographic location and directing one or more players to simultaneously commence play at the golf course in each geographic location. The method further includes the steps of recording a score of each player at the golf course in each geographic location and ranking the scores of the players over the plurality of geographic locations with a computer. The method further includes the step of broadcasting the ranking of the scores over a broadcast medium linked to the computer. Another method and system are also included.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to golf tournaments, and more particularly to amethod for conducting a golf tournament over a plurality of geographiclocations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf tournaments are common among various skill levels, from beginner toprofessional. Various patents have been granted in relation to golftournaments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,580 to Jira is directed toa system for registering golfers for a schedule of golf tournaments,collecting entrance fees, determining the winner of each tournament andpaying the prizes to the winners. Another example, U.S. Pat. No.8,133,124 to Braun, discloses a method for a golf tournament, in whichthe scoring of the golf tournament is affected by viewer interaction andwhether a viewer observes a golfer complying with the tournament rules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a method is provided for conducting a golf tournamentover a plurality of geographic locations. The method includes the stepsof providing a golf course with a fixed layout in each geographiclocation and directing one or more players to simultaneously commenceplay at the golf course in each geographic location. The method furtherincludes the steps of recording a score of each player at the golfcourse in each geographic location and ranking the scores of the playersover the plurality of geographic locations with a computer. The methodfurther includes the step of broadcasting the ranking of the scores overa broadcast medium linked to the computer.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the method includes thesteps of recording the score of each player in a local database at eachgeographic location and transmitting the score of each player in eachgeographic location from the local database to a central database. Themethod further includes ranking the scores of all of the players overthe plurality of geographic locations with the computer linked to thecentral database. The method further includes broadcasting the rankingof the scores over a website linked to the computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in the following description in view of thedrawings that show:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a plurality of geographic locations over whichthe method of the present invention is operated;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a system for conducting a golf tournamentover the plurality of geographic locations illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a gross score ranking of players within thegolf tournament on a website;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of weather condition data collected at eachgeographic location illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a net score ranking of players within the golftournament on the website based on the weather condition data of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a net score ranking of players within the golftournament on the website based on a range of the weather condition dataof FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of player data collected at each geographiclocation illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a net score ranking of players within the golftournament on the website based on the player data of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a net score ranking of players within the golftournament on the website based on a range of the player data of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart depicting a method for conducting a golftournament over the plurality of geographic locations illustrated inFIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a system for conducting a golf tournamentover the plurality of geographic locations illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have recognized several limitations of theconventional methods for conducting golf tournaments. For example, theinventors recognized that conventional methods for conducting a golftournament are limited to a golf tournament conducted at a golf courseat a single geographic location. This is due to the inherent requirementthat a golf tournament must be played over a fixed golf course layoutand conventional golf course layouts vary from geographic location togeographic location. Based on this recognition, the present inventorsdeveloped a method for conducting a golf tournament over a plurality ofgeographic locations, by providing a golf course with a fixed layout ateach geographic location. By permitting the golf tournament to beconducted over a plurality of geographic regions, several notableadvantages are achieved over conventional methods, such as an increasedcapacity of players in the tournament, for example.

The term “golf tournament” is used herein. This term is not meant to belimiting as the tournament may involve a golf game or a golf-like game.Thus, the use of the term golf tournament relates to a golf game and/ora golf-like game. Additionally, the term “golf course” is used herein.This term is not meant to be limiting as the golf course may pertain toany location where a golf game or a golf-like game may be played.

FIG. 1 illustrates a geographic region 108 such as the continentalUnited States, for example. The geographic region 108 includes aplurality of geographic locations 110, 112, 114, such as a plurality ofmetropolitan areas or cities, for example. In the illustrated example ofFIG. 1 the first geographic location 110 is the city of Orlando, thesecond geographic location 112 is the city of Houston and the thirdgeographic location 114 is the city of Denver. The illustratedembodiment of FIG. 1 is merely exemplary and the system and method forconducting a golf tournament over a plurality of geographic locations ofthe present invention is not limited to any specific plurality ofgeographic locations. The geographic locations may be distributed acrossa country, as in the illustrated example of FIG. 1, or a state, or acounty or a metropolitan area, for example.

FIG. 2 illustrates the system 101 for conducting a golf tournament overthe geographic locations 110, 112, 114. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a golfcourse 116 is provided at each geographic location 110, 112, 114, whereeach golf course 116 has a fixed layout. The fixed layout for the golfcourse 116 at each geographic location 110, 112, 114 is first determinedand then each golf course 116 with the fixed layout is built at eachgeographic location 110, 112, 114. As appreciated by one skilled in theart, an adequate sized area at each geographic location 110, 112, 114must be acquired which can accommodate the golf course 116 with thefixed layout.

In order to commence the golf tournament, one or more players aredirected to the golf course 116 at each geographic location 110, 112,114. Once the player(s) are located at the golf course 116 in eachgeographic location 110, 112, 114, the player(s) are instructed tosimultaneously commence play at the golf course 116 at the geographiclocation 110, 112, 114. In one example, a shotgun start may be used,where a player at each geographic location 110, 112, 114 is assigned astarting hole between 1-18 at the golf course 116, and thus each playersimultaneously commences play at the start time of the tournament. Inanother example, a normal tournament start may be used, where eachplayer at each geographic location 110, 112, 114 is given a tee time tostart play at the first tee on the golf course 116 at each geographiclocation 110, 112, 114. Since the geographic locations 110, 112, 114 arepositioned in different time zones, the tee times provided to eachplayer in each geographic location 110, 112, 114 are adjusted, such thatthe players commence play simultaneously over the plurality ofgeographic locations 110, 112, 114. The players at each geographiclocation 110, 112, 114 may be grouped into groups of at least two, forexample. Additionally, the playing time of the tournament is based onwhether a shotgun start (shorter playing time) or a normal start (longerplaying time) is used. For a normal tournament start, the tee timesdistributed to the players at each geographic location 110, 112, 114span a time range, based on the number of players at each geographiclocation 110, 112, 114. The tournament may take place during one day ormore than one day.

FIG. 2 further illustrates a local database 111, 113, 115 at therespective geographic location 110, 112, 114. As each player commencesto play on the golf course 116 at each geographic location 110, 112,114, the score of each, player is recorded at the local database 111,113, 115 at the respective geographic location 110, 112, 114. Forexample, one or more scoring personnel may walk with each player on thegolf course 116 at each geographic location 110, 112, 114, and mayrecord the player score on a mobile device which is wirelessly connectedto the local database 111, 113, 115 at the respective geographiclocation 110, 112, 114.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the player scores that are recorded ineach local database 111, 113, 115 at each geographic location 110, 112,114 are transmitted to a central database 117. The central database 117may be located at one of the geographic locations 110, 112, 114 or maybe located at a geographic location other than the geographic locations110, 112, 114. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the central database117 includes a computer 118. Upon receiving all of the scoring data fromall of the local databases 111, 113, 115, the computer 118 ranks thescoring data to provide a gross ranking 126 of the scores.

FIG. 3 illustrates a broadcast medium, such as a website 128, where thecomputer 118 broadcasts the gross ranking 126 of the scores, to beaccessed and viewed by tournament followers. As illustrated in FIG. 3,in addition to displaying the gross ranking 126 of the scores of playersin the tournament, the website 128 includes the player name, how manyholes the player has completed, and the geographic location 110, 112,114 of the player.

As previously discussed, the local database 111, 113, 115 records theplayer scores at each geographic location 110, 112, 114. In an exemplaryembodiment, the local database 111, 113, 115 may further record playingcondition data associated with each geographic location 110, 112, 114.For example, one or more personnel may be designated at each geographiclocation 110, 112, 114 to record playing condition data and input thisplaying condition data into the respective local database 111, 113, 115.As with the scoring data, such playing condition data from the localdatabases 111, 113, 115 may also be transmitted to the central database117. FIG. 4 illustrates a data table of the playing condition data 130from each local database 111, 113, 115 received by the central database117. Wind speed data 132, temperature data 134, precipitation data 136,and altitude data 138 are provided, for each geographic location 110,112, 114. The above listed playing condition data is merely exemplaryand the recorded playing condition data may be less or more data thanthe listed playing condition above.

Based on the playing condition data 130 of FIG. 4, the computer 118 atthe central database 117 is configured to generate a net ranking 140 ofthe scores of the players in the tournament, based on the playingcondition data 130 at each geographic location 110, 112, 114. FIG. 5illustrates the website 128 with the net ranking 140 of the scores ofthe players in the tournament, based on the wind speed data 132 of FIG.4. As appreciated by one skilled in the art, the level of difficulty ofgolf rises with wind speed. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, thecomputer 118 is configured with an algorithm to factor in wind speeddata 132, along with the other playing condition data 130 at eachgeographic location 110, 112, 114, and compute the net ranking 140 ofscores, based on an initial gross ranking 126 of scores. For example,the computer 118 determined the net ranking 140 of scores, based on theinitial gross ranking 126 of scores, by subtracting strokes from thegross score of M. O'Brien, based on the high wind speed data 132 at thegeographic location 114 of M. O'Brien, for example. Similarly, asappreciated by one of skill in the art, the level of difficulty of golfdecreases with increased temperature (since increased temperaturetranslates to less dense air and increased ball flight), and decreaseswith increased altitude. Thus, the computer 118 may feature similaralgorithms, which compute a net ranking of the scores, based on aninitial gross ranking of the scores, by considering the playingcondition data 130 at each geographic location 110, 112, 114. As furtherillustrated in FIG. 5, the computer 118 may broadcast the playingcondition data 130, such as the wind speed data 132 for each scorewithin the net ranking 140 of the scores. In addition, the playingcondition data 130 may include data related to the humidity of the airat each geographic location. In one example, if the playing conditiondata 130 at one location indicates a higher humidity, the ball flightmay be greater in that location than a location with a lower humidityand thus the computer 118 may use this data 130 to compute a net rankingof the players.

In addition to using the playing condition data 130 to determine the netranking 140 of the scores, the computer 118 may determine a ranking 142of the scores, where the only scores included in the ranking 142 arethose scores recorded at a geographic location that meets a range of theplaying condition data 130. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, theranking 142 of the scores is shown, for scores in geographic locations110, 112, 114 where the temperature data 134 is greater than atemperature threshold. In the example of FIG. 6, the ranking 142 is forscores in geographic locations 110, 112, 114, where the temperature data134 is greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, the ranking 142provides an assessment of the players in geographic locations 110, 112,114 within a specific range of playing condition data 130. Although theabove example of FIG. 6 involved a ranking 142 of the scores forgeographic locations in which the temperature data is above atemperature threshold, the ranking of the scores may be for geographiclocations in which the wind speed data is greater/less than a windthreshold, in which the temperature data is less than a temperaturethreshold, the precipitation data is less/more than a precipitationthreshold and the altitude data is less/more than an altitude threshold,or any combination thereof.

In addition to the score data and playing condition data 130, the localdatabase 111, 113, 115 at each geographic location 110, 112, 114 may beused to store data related to each player at the geographic locations110, 112, 114. In an exemplary embodiment, the player data may includeone or more of the age, gender and handicap of each player, for example.FIG. 7 illustrates a table of the player data 144 collected by the localdatabases 111, 113, 115 of each player at the geographic locations 110,112, 114 and transmitted to the central database 117. For example, oneor more personnel may be designated at each geographic location 110,112, 114 to record player data and input this player data into therespective local database 111, 113, 115. For example, age data 146,gender data 148, and handicap data 150 are provided, for each player.

Based on the player data 144 of FIG. 7, the computer 118 at the centraldatabase 117 is configured to generate a net ranking 152 of the scoresof the players in the tournament, based on the player data 144 of theplayers at each geographic location 110, 112, 114. FIG. 8 illustratesthe website 128 with the net ranking 152 of the scores of the players inthe tournament, based on the handicap data 150 of FIG. 7. As appreciatedby one skilled in the art, a player's net score is determined bysubtracting the player's handicap from the player's gross score. Thus,for example, player M. O'Brien's net score (−3) is determined bysubtracting the handicap (8) from the gross score (+5). This sameprocess is repeated for each player, and the computer 118 includes analgorithm to compute the net score for each player, after which thecomputer 118 determines the net ranking 152 of the scores. Similarly, asappreciated by one of skill in the art, age data 146 and gender data 148have an impact on a golfer's net score, such that the computer 118includes an algorithm to convert the gross score to a net score, basedon the age data 146 and gender data 148 of each golfer. As furtherillustrated in FIG. 8, the computer 118 may broadcast the player data144, such as the handicap data 150 for each score within the net ranking152 of the scores.

In addition to using the player data 144 to determine the net ranking152 of the scores, the computer 118 may be used to determine a ranking154 of the scores, where the scores included in the ranking 154 arebased on a range of the player data 144. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 9, the ranking 154 of the scores is shown, for those players wherethe handicap data 150 is less than a handicap threshold. In the exampleof FIG. 9, the ranking 154 is for player scores, where the playerhandicap data 150 is less than 8. Thus, the ranking 154 provides anassessment of those players in tournament, with a specific range ofplayer data 144 (e.g. low handicap players). Although the above exampleof FIG. 9 involved a ranking 154 of the scores for players with handicapdata less than a handicap threshold, the ranking of the scores may befor players with age data above an age threshold, with age data below anage threshold, male gender players, female gender players, or withhandicap data above a handicap threshold, or any combination thereof.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method 100 for conducting agolf tournament over the plurality of geographic locations 110, 112,114. The method 100 begins at 161 by providing 162 a golf course 116with a fixed layout in each of the plurality of geographic locations110, 112, 114. The method 100 further includes directing 164 one or moreplayers to simultaneously commence play at the golf course 116 in eachgeographic location 110, 112, 114. The method 100 further includesrecording 166 a score of each player at the golf course 116 in eachgeographic location 110, 112, 114. The method 100 further includesranking 168 the scores of the players over the plurality of geographiclocations 110, 112, 114 with the computer 118. The method 100 furtherincludes broadcasting 170 the ranking of the scores over a broadcastmedium 128 linked to the computer 118, before ending at 171.

FIG. 11 illustrates a system 100′ for conducting a golf tournament overthe plurality of geographic locations 110, 112, 114. For simplicity, thesystem 100 is illustrated and described in terms of the geographiclocation 110 and the local database 111 at the geographic location 110.However, the geographic locations 112, 114 and local databases 113, 115would have the same interaction with the system 100′. As illustrated inFIG. 11, the altitude data 138, the playing condition data 130 and acourse condition data 139 are all transmitted from the local database111 to the computer 118. The course condition data 139 includes variousdata indicative of the golf course condition, including but not limitedto whether the course is wet or dry, the type of grass used on thefairway/rough, grass height, and/or whether a portion of the golf courseis under repair. For example, the course condition data 139 for a golfcourse in Florida may indicate that the course uses Bermuda type grassand that the greens are undergoing an aeration repair. Thus, thecomputer 118 may factor in this course condition data 139, as comparedto the type of grass and whether repairs are being performed on the golfcourses at the other geographic locations, when the computer 118 ranksthe player scores at each geographic location. As discussed above, thealtitude data 138, playing condition data 130 and course condition data139 are recorded at the golf course 116 at the geographic location 110by tournament personnel. Additionally, the gross scores 126 aretransmitted from the local database 111 to the computer 118. As alsodiscussed above, the gross scores 126 of the players at the geographiclocation 110 are also recorded by tournament personnel. Upon receivingthe altitude data 138, the playing condition data 130, the coursecondition data 139 and the gross scores 126 from the local database 111the computer 118 calculates a par adjustment for each hole of the golfcourse 116 with the fixed layout. For example if the altitude data 138is above an altitude threshold, the computer 118 may reduce the par ofeach hole of the golf course 116 by a fractional amount, such as 0.15,for example. In another example, if the wind speed data 132 (i.e., theplaying condition data 130) exceeds a threshold speed, the computer 118may increase the par of each hole of the golf course 116 by a fractionalamount, such as 0.2, for example. Based on the received data from thelocal database 111, the computer 118 calculates a par adjustment 123 foreach hole of the golf course 116. Based on the calculated par adjustment123 for each hole of the golf course 116, the computer 118 then adjuststhe received gross scores 126 into net scores 160 which factor in thepar adjustment 123 of each hole of the golf course 116. The computer 118then uploads the net scores 160 onto the website 120 and the net scores160 may be displayed on the tournament website 120. The same exchange ofdata is performed between the computer 118 and the local databases 113,115 at the geographic locations 112, 114, so that the computer 118 candetermine the par adjustment 123 for each hole on the golf courses 118,120, and output the net scores 160 for all of the players at all of thegeographic locations 110, 112, 114 on the website 120. This system 100′is merely exemplary, and the tournament scores need not factor in a paradjustment of each hole on the golf courses at the geographic locations,and instead the tournament may rank the scores of the players based onany of the previously discussed ranking techniques discussed in theprevious embodiments of the present invention.

In an exemplary embodiment, the golf tournament of the present inventionmay be scheduled within various time zones. For example, within theEastern Standard Time Zone (EST) of the United States, a tournament maybe held among the geographic locations of Detroit and Pittsburgh.However, this is merely one example of how one tournament may bescheduled and the tournament of the present invention need not berestricted to any one specific time zone. Additionally, the tournamentof the present invention may be scheduled within geographic locationsthat are restricted to a local area, a regional area, a national area oreven an international region, for example. Indeed, an internationalregional tournament provides players with the benefit of participatingin a simultaneous international or global tournament without needing totravel outside the players local neighborhood.

In an exemplary embodiment, in addition to each golf course 116, 118,120 having a fixed layout, each golf course 116, 118, 120 may featuregreens that have a fixed flagstick placement on each green. For example,the greens of the fixed golf course layout of each golf course 116, 118,120 may be separated into numbered quadrants, and a fixed quadrant ofeach green may be selected for each day of the tournament across all ofthe golf courses 116, 118, 120. However, the fixed flagstick placementis optional and the tournament need not include numbered quadrants andassign a fixed quadrant for each green across all the golf courses.

In an exemplary embodiment, the website 120 may also feature a profilefor each player, with introductory information including theirgeographic location, background information and photos/video tointroduce the player to the viewing public. However, the player profilesare optional for the website 120, provided that the ranking of thescores displayed by the website 120 adequately identifies each playerwithin the ranking.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are providedby way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutionsmay be made without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, itis intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scopeof the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for conducting a golf tournamentover a plurality of geographic locations, said method comprising:providing a golf course with a fixed layout in each of the plurality ofgeographic locations; directing one or more players to simultaneouslycommence play at the golf course in each geographic location; recordinga score of each player at the golf course in each geographic location;ranking the scores of the players over the plurality of geographiclocations with a computer; and broadcasting the ranking of the scoresover a broadcast medium linked to the computer.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the recording step further comprises recording data relatedto playing conditions at each geographic location.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the data includes at least one of wind speed,temperature, precipitation and altitude at each geographic location. 4.The method of claim 2, further comprising: adjusting the ranking of thescores of the players into a net ranking of the scores with thecomputer, said adjusting based on the data related to the playingconditions at each geographic location; and broadcasting the net rankingof the scores over the broadcast medium.
 5. The method of claim 2,wherein the broadcasting step further comprises broadcasting the datarelated to the playing conditions for each score within the ranking ofthe scores.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the broadcasting stepcomprises broadcasting a respective ranking of the scores for theplayers over the plurality of geographic locations, wherein the scoresincluded within each respective ranking are based on a respective rangeof the data related to the playing conditions.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the recording further comprises recording data related to eachplayer at each geographic location.
 8. The method of claim 7, whereinthe data includes at least one of age, gender and handicap of eachplayer.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising: adjusting theranking of the scores of the players into a net ranking of the scores,said adjusting based on the data related to each player at eachgeographic location; and broadcasting the net ranking of the scores overthe broadcast medium.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein thebroadcasting step further comprises broadcasting the data related toeach player for each score within the ranking of the scores.
 11. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the broadcasting step comprises broadcastinga respective ranking of the scores for the players over the plurality ofgeographic locations, wherein the scores included within each respectiveranking are based on a respective range of the data related to eachplayer.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of geographiclocations are a plurality of distinct metropolitan areas.
 13. A methodfor conducting a golf tournament over a plurality of geographiclocations, said method comprising: providing a golf course with a fixedlayout in each of the plurality of geographic locations; directing oneor more players to simultaneously commence play at the golf course ineach geographic location; recording a score of each player in a localdatabase at each geographic location; transmitting the score of eachplayer in each geographic location from the local database to a centraldatabase; ranking the scores of all of the players over the plurality ofgeographic locations with a computer linked to the central database; andbroadcasting the ranking of the scores over a website linked to thecomputer.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the recording step furthercomprises: recording playing condition data at each geographic locationin the local database, said playing condition data including at leastone of wind speed, temperature, precipitation and altitude; andrecording player data of each player at each geographic location in thelocal database, said player data including at least one of age, genderand handicap.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: adjustingthe ranking of the scores into a net ranking of the scores, based on atleast one of the playing condition data and the player data for eachscore; and broadcasting the net ranking of the scores over the website.16. The method of claim 14, wherein the broadcasting step comprisesbroadcasting the ranking of the scores and broadcasting at least one ofthe playing condition data and the player data for each score within theranking of the scores.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein thebroadcasting step comprises broadcasting a respective ranking of thescores, wherein the scores included within each respective ranking aredetermined based on a respective range of playing condition data orplayer data.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the respective rankingof the scores includes scores based on one of: the wind speed at thegeographic location of the score being greater than a threshold windspeed; and the wind speed at the geographic location of the score beingless than a threshold wind speed.
 19. The method of claim 17, whereinthe respective ranking of the scores includes scores based on one of:the handicap of the player is less than a handicap threshold; and thehandicap of the player is greater than a handicap threshold.
 20. Asystem for conducting a golf tournament over a plurality of geographiclocations, said system comprising: a local database maintaining dataabout a golf course with a fixed layout in each of the plurality ofgeographic locations, said local database configured to store grossscores of each player, playing condition data and course condition dataat the golf course at each geographic location, said playing conditiondata including wind speed data and altitude data; a computer located ata central database, said computer configured to receive the grossscores, the playing condition data and the course condition data fromthe local database at each geographic location; wherein the computer isconfigured to calculate a par adjustment of each hole of the golf courseat each geographic location, based on the playing condition data andcourse condition data from the local database at each geographiclocation; wherein the computer is configured to adjust the gross scoresof the players at the golf course at each geographic location into netscores based on the par adjustment of each hole of the golf course ateach geographic location; and wherein the computer is configured toupload the net scores to a website.